Florida woman sentenced to life in prison in shooting deaths of children

Florida – A Florida woman was sentenced to life in prison Thursday in connection with the shooting deaths of her two teenagers. As reported by HLN, a Hillsborough County jury found Julie Schenecker guilty of two counts of first-degree murder after two hours of deliberation.

Schenecker, 53, was charged with the 2011 killings of her 16-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son. Prosecutors allege that she intended on her then husband finding the dead bodies of their children upon his return home from working overseas. Defense lawyers say she was being treated for substance abuse and mental health conditions at the time.

Schenecker is quoted as stating to the judge in court prior to receiving her sentence, “Your honor, I’m prepared and I accept your sentence. I apologize to everybody in this courtroom who have broken their lives… I know our children are in heaven. I want people to try to find comfort in believing as I do that they are in no pain and they are alive and enjoying everything and anything heaven has to offer.”

A judge sentenced her to two life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 25 years on each count.